[Hallicrafters] Different kind of what its worth question

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 1/30/06, Duane Fischer, W8DBF <dfischer at usol.com> wrote:

> Just one major flaw OM, in a word "enforcement". There is no practical, cost
> effective or reasonable way to enforce such agreements, 'rules' or
> gentlemen's agreements.

> It all sounds good to discuss, looks fine on paper, but enforcing it is
> nearly not possible for the non-millionaires among us.

I disagree, Duane.

The real issue is not enforcement, but being foolish or wreckless in
your dealings. Enforcement has never been an issue with me. It's one
of the benefits of dealing directly. I have one deal outstanding that
I was hosed on by a fellow out in 6 Land, but when I am back out there
I'll settle things up. That is, if he isn't taking a dirt nap by now.

> Is it my imagination, (yes I know it is fertile, creative and sometimes even
> productive!), or has the overall numbers of 'misrepresented' dealings
> between people increased over the past ten years? Either I was just plain
> lucky, or fortunate, but I sure do not recall people trying to explit me in
> the sixties, seventies and eighties as they do since about the middle
> nineties.

I think it was worse before, personally. We just weren't as aware of
it. While the 'net makes it easier for folks to report their
misfortunes and therefore, appear more numerous, it also makes it more
difficult for the repeat offenders to continue in their ways. That
being said, there are still plenty of people buying things from
radio-mart, despite all that has come to light about him. I equate
this more to typical greed and 'Lack of Common Sense', both being more
common these days.

> I have really noticed this trend rising like an outdoor thermometer with a
> propane torch beneath it over the past five years. Is this a valid
> observation or are my circumstances 'atypical'?

I don't think the observation is atypical, perhaps the way you choose
to interpret the results is. Keeping in mind that there is a lot more
interest in vintage gear today then 10-20 years ago, there are more
people involved and more deals being made. I suspect the percentages
remain the same, even if the overall numbers are larger. Of 100% maybe
90% are good people, 10% are lowlifes. While 10% of one million looks
far worse than 10% of one thousand, the opposite is true for the 90%
of good folks. We just tend to take notice of the bad deals since they
are the exception, not the more common rule. We hear a lot of hyped
stories about crime being on the rise (more crimes reported), thanks
in part to the media's need to create news. What we don't hear though,
are the trends that clearly show overall crime rates going down over
the last two decades or more.

There will always be fools begging to be exploited as there will
always be dishonest bottom feeders looking for the opportunity (I say
this as a former fool who sent a receiver to a fellow ham I'd been
dealing with, and trusted him to pay for it or send it back if he
didn't want it). The only way to change things is for those in a
position to be exploited to take control of the situation and arm
themselves with knowledge. If it's your money, you and you alone are
ultimately responsible for the outcome. Not sure? Ask questions. Still
not comfortable? Save your money and move on. The problem seems to be
the ability of ego and/or desire to overrule Common Sense. And we all
know that Common Sense isn't as common as it once was. The dumbing
down of society is only partly to blame. The willing participants bear
most of the responsibility. They just don't choose to accept it.

That's my view of it. I bet you're glad you asked.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ